Health News Around the World

So much to talk about this week! All the relevant stories are linked in the description below! Non-COVID-19 Stories: The influence of bright and dim light on substrate metabolism, energy expenditure and thermoregulation in insulin-resistant individuals depends on time of day The international mystery of ‘the Hum' "Speculation online has, of course, run wild. It's Mother Earth warning us of an impending catastrophe. It's the breaking of the seventh seal. It's ghosts (psychics sometimes measure for low-frequency sound when they investigate a haunted building). It's waves hitting the ocean floor thousands of miles away." Paralysed man with severed spine walks thanks to implant "A paralysed man with a severed spinal cord has been able to walk again, thanks to an implant developed by a team of Swiss researchers." Big Tech jockeys for position in scramble for health data primacy "Figures from CB Insights, a market intelligence company, show that almost $7bn was invested in healthcare start-ups by the venture capital arms of Big Tech — Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google and Amazon — in the year and a half to mid-2021." Young cannabis users at increased risk of repeat stroke A recent study led by researchers at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, has shown young adults with a history of stroke or TIA and CUD have a 50% increased risk of recurrent stroke compared with those without CUD. Teen skater's doping test draws global wrath against Russia "Trimetazidine has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of prohibited substances since 2014. It is currently categorised as "hormone and metabolic modulator", which is illegal for athletes to use both in- and out-of-competition." Biogen pushes back on Medicare's limits on Alzheimer's drug coverage — and advances a counteroffer The company has a new proposal: it will get Medicare the extra data it wants about the Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm COVID-19 Stories: Pfizer has withdrawn its application to the FDA to approve 2 doses for kids under 5. The news may sound disappointing but it almost certainly signals that we will have good data on the third dose very soon. More kids under 5 than ever are sick with COVID: Take a rare look inside a pediatric ICU Joe Rogan apologizes to Spotify and musicians amid boycott over his podcast Podcaster Joe Rogan admitted late Sunday that he could do more when it comes to informing his listeners.

So much to talk about this week! All the relevant stories are linked in the description below! Non-COVID-19 Stories: CAN DOCTORS PRACTICE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES? VIRAL PHOTO REVEALS A CONTENTIOUS DEBATE In a 2016 study, researchers found that in places where that question was asked as part of the licensing process, physicians were also least likely to seek treatment for their mental health. Some 40 percent of doctors said they would avoid getting mental-health care due to potential “repercussions,” the study authors write. Billionaire Mark Cuban Opens Online Pharmacy To Provide Affordable Generic Drugs The online pharmacy's prices for generics factor in a 15% margin on top of actual manufacturer prices and a $3 pharmacist fee, the statement said. The markup on generics average “at least” 100%, the MCCPDC said, while the Wall Street Journal reports in some cases it exceeds 1,000%. $3 billion, Hal Barron and other biotech veterans launch a disease ‘reversal' company "A who's who of top researchers will also be associated with the company...including Nobel laureates Frances Arnold, Jennifer Doudna, and Shinya Yamanaka." For doctors drowning in emails, one health system's new strategy: pay for replies Since November, doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and a handful of other UCSF clinicians have been able to bill payers for patient emails that require medical evaluation or more than a few minutes to respond, said Byron, also UCSF's associate chief medical information officer. UCSF recently expanded the system to all specialties after piloting it for dermatologists. The Top Use Cases for VR in Healthcare 2022 COVID-19 Stories: Literally EVERYTHING You Need to Know about Omicron Via Dr. Toppol. The kids are not alright: Data suggests 10% of children with COVID-19 become "long-haulers" Estimates vary, but research that has been done on earlier variants — prior to the arrival of Omicron — suggests between 10 and 30 per cent of people who get COVID-19 may have symptoms that persist beyond four weeks. If that holds true with the Omicron variant, Australia could see hundreds of thousands of people experiencing persistent symptoms and long COVID. Biden plan to ship 500 million coronavirus test kits transforms Postal Service into relief agency

So much to talk about this week! All the relevant stories are linked in the description below! Non-COVID-19 Stories: In a First, Man Receives a Heart From a Genetically Altered Pig A 57-year-old man with life-threatening heart disease has received a heart from a genetically modified pig, a groundbreaking procedure that offers hope to hundreds of thousands of patients with failing organs. The Promises and Perils of Psychedelic Health Care Many recreational drugs known for mind-altering trips are being studied to treat depression, substance use and other disorders. Here's what you need to know. How health care is turning into a consumer product According to cb Insights, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook's new parent company) and Microsoft collectively poured some $3.6bn into health-related deals last year. They are particularly active in two areas: devices and data. mRNA vaccine makers set sights on shingles and the Epstein-Barr virus More advances on the mRNA vaccine front this week as both Pfizer and Moderna move forward on new viral targets for future vaccines. Pfizer is turning its focus to shingles while Moderna has begun human trials for a mRNA vaccine against the Epstein-Barr Virus. COVID-19 Stories: California hospitals find that Omicron causes fewer hospitalizations and shorter stays: Compared with Delta, Omicron infections were half as likely to send people to the hospital. Official study here. Covid Hospitalizations in Children Surge to a Record Covid-19 hospitalizations are up 165% to an average 830 daily admissions for those 17 or younger, compared with the week ending Dec. 26, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's too much.' Nurses say N.Y.C. hospitals are overrun with Covid patients. Nurses at overwhelmed public hospitals in New York City issued a public cry for help on Thursday, describing overrun emergency rooms, hospital floors filled to capacity, and nurses running themselves ragged as they struggle to take care of a surging patient load with fewer staff.

The end of the telehealth era? The Gig Economy Worker—A New Social Determinant of Health? A man who got 12 COVID booster shots? Omicron's silver lining? All the relevant stories are linked below: Non-COVID-19 Stories: The Gig Economy Worker—A New Social Determinant of Health? Elizabeth Holmes verdict: Former Theranos CEO is found guilty on 4 counts The telehealth bubble has burst. Time to figure out what's next Synchron Announces First Direct-Thought Tweet, “Hello World,” Using an Implantable Brain Computer Interface: A patient with ALS in Australia is the first person to tweet a message to the world using only direct thought via the Stentrode™ brain computer interface. COVID-19 Stories: Hospitals Are in Serious Trouble: Omicron is inundating a health-care system that was already buckling under the cumulative toll of every previous surge. Will the Omicron Wave Break Nursing?: A lot has changed since the beginning of the pandemic when there were more than 3,000 patients in intensive care units at New York City hospitals and upwards of 750 people were dying a day from COVID. Omicron could have a silver lining by boosting immunity, some experts say. But don't bet on it.: They note that omicron, while stunningly contagious, appears less likely to send someone to the hospital. How Full Are Hospital I.C.U.s Near You?: About one in 4 U.S. hospitals with intensive care units, or 713 total hospitals, recently reported that at least 95 percent of their I.C.U. beds were full. In the week ending Dec. 30, an average of 77 percent of intensive care hospital beds were occupied nationwide, according to a dataset released weekly by the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Robert Malone on Joe Rogan's Podcast (FACT CHECK): Who is Robert Malone? Joe Rogan's guest was a vaccine scientist, became an anti-vaccine darling What Is Mass Formation Psychosis? Robert Malone Makes Unfounded Covid-19 Vaccine Claims On Joe Rogan Show

In this week's show we talk about the hunger crisis that is currently within Afghanistan, Carbon Health's newest Continuous Glucose Monitor. We also share insights into the Omicron variant and its effect in spread and severity. A great quote from Dr. Bob Wachter (MD, UCSF) summarizes it well: "This thing has rapidly become the world's exasperating good news/bad news story. If your head isn't spinning, you're not paying attention." Sources: Omicron variant now makes up 73% of Covid infections diagnosed in U.S. Early assessment of the clinical severity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in South Africa Omicron Infections Seem to Be Milder, Three Research Teams Report C.D.C. Shortens Covid Isolation Period for Health Care Workers FDA authorizes second antiviral pill to treat Covid-19 UK agency: Pfizer booster's ability to prevent symptomatic COVID wanes within weeks Considerable escape of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron to antibody neutralization

Omicron variant starts to sweep the globe? Oracle acquires Cerner? Repercussions from Purdue Pharma's Case? Check it out on this week's HNATW!

CRISPRing the microbiome? Stem cells used to cure diabetes? Omicron variant spreads? What is the future state of this pandemic?